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What's wrong with Amber's ear?

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Alicia

Alicia

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I got Amber 2 weeks ago and I noticed this morning that she had a scab round her ear and it was a bit white. My friend was with me at the time and she thinks it could be an infection, what do you think?

Sorry the pictures aren't good but I hope you can still see it.
 

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There could be a number of causes, including, an injury, mites, or bacterial/ fungal infection. Unfortunately, the pictures are not clear enough to suggest a single cause. Regardless, Amber should be seen by a veterinary surgeon.
 
To me, that looks like mites. I'd treat her with Ivermectin spot-on, and if you don't see an improvement within 24 hours-48 hours, get her to a vet. :)
 
Not clear enough to call but my money is on fungal because of the white stuff. (However this could be because fungal has infected an already created mite sratching wound.)

Deffo go to Vet.

x
 
I agree that either fungal or mites is possible, worth seeing the vet. Whether the vet would prescribe topical ivermectin or ear drops I'm not sure, but there are two drops I know of to treat ear mites and one of these drops also treats fungal infections: Surolan.
 
Thank you. I've been told about some shampoos by gorgeous guineas which someone told me might work, I think I'll give them a try. If they don't work I'll take her to the vets.
 
Ideally, Amber should be seen by a veterinary surgeon, especially if the wound appears infected.
 
Ok I can try and get her in on Monday. She's living with Spicy should I take her too?
 
I have always taken bonded pairs of cavies together. The two cavies keep each other company during the journey to and from the practice, which reduces the amount of stress the poorly cavy would otherwise experience if taken on their own. Typically, the vet will look at the other cavy without charge. Naturally, this is dependent on the individual vet.
 
Unfortunately as you say it is dependent on the individual vet. The last vet I took my pigs to charged a £15 consultation fee for the first pig, plus a £7.50 consultation fee for each additional pig - at the same appointment.
 
:o Fortunately, my vets do not have the same attitude, and will happily give a companion cavy a quick health check free of charge. However, they do charge a £20.00 consultation fee! :)
 
I am taking her to the vets this Friday, but have been looking on the internet just to see what other people think (I want as many people's opinions on this as possible - I know of course the vets is the best place to go) and someone thought it might be an ear infection because I told her about her bad eye sight too: http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=46744

Do you think this could be possible? As I said I know the vet will have the best advice and I will be taking her to the vets on Friday, I'm just trying to get as much information and opinions as possible until then.

The scab has got smaller now but it is still quite white in her ear.
 
It is plausible that Amber has an inner ear infection that is affecting her vision. However, I believe she would exhibit other signs to indicate that this is the case. For example, I believe Amber would exhibit some loss of balance. I do not believe the two are connected.

As previously mentioned, a fungal infection sounds to be the cause. Amber does need to see a vet due to the location of the inflamed area. Good luck at the vets on Friday!
 
I've been treating Amber with a shampoo and melt and I think her ear has improved. She now only has one or two very small scabs and I put a little bit of melt on her ear this afternoon and checked it an hour or two later and it looked much better and less dry. I'm going to bathe her again in the shampoo and melt tommorow (1 week after 1st shampoo and melt) and hopefully that will be all she'll need :)

Here are some photos of her ear taken a few minutes ago (sorry they're not very clear she wouldn't stop wriggling :)) )
ambersear003.jpg

ambersear004.jpg
 
Amber has quite a bit of hair loss around her eye going to her ear. She's certainly suffering from some infection, either fungal or parasitic, as has been mentioned previously. I would recommend a trip to the vets for this little girl to get it cleared as quickly as possible. Good Luck.
 
The hair is now growing back so I think the infection is going. It's not clear on the photo but there is quite a few hairs growing through now.
 
There is a lot of hair loss there, but the skin looks healthier than it did before. Keep up the the treatment - and remember to keep applying an anti-fungal cream until a good 3-4 days minimum after the fungal infection has cleared (i.e. when the skin is free of all crustiness, scabs etc. and is simply bare but healthy).
 
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